Anticipation is building for the KFF Singapore Badminton Open 2024, which will take place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium from 28 May to 2 June 2024, as the draw has been revealed.
Organised by the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA), the KFF Singapore Badminton Open is part of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Super 750 series. The tournament will showcase the top 15 singles players and top 10 doubles pairs, all vying for prestigious titles and a share of the U$850,000 prize money.
Men’s Singles
Fans can look forward to a potential quarter-final clash in the men’s singles between world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen (above) and defending champion Anthony Sinisuka Ginting.
Axelsen, who leads their head-to-head 13-5, most recently faced off against Ginting at the All England Open quarter-finals, where the Indonesian triumphed in a thrilling three-setter. However, Ginting must first overcome Malaysia’s in-form Lee Zii Jia, fresh off his Thailand Open victory.
Local star Loh Kean Yew also features in the upper half of the draw and will face China’s Lu Guang Zu in his opening match. Should Loh advance, he will likely face last year’s runner-up Anders Antonsen in the next round. The two last met at the Denmark Open, where Loh defeated Antonsen in straight sets (21-19, 21-19).
Ahead of next week’s competition, Loh said: “I’m always looking forward to competing on home ground, surrounded by our local supporters! I feel so humbled and grateful to have them cheering me on. It’s a truly special feeling that always motivates me to give my best.”
Women’s Singles
Singapore’s Yeo Jia Min will start the tournament with a tough challenge against China’s He Bing Jiao, having lost all four previous encounters.
Defending champion and world No. 1 An Se Young is expected to progress smoothly, potentially meeting He in the quarter-finals, with a 7-5 head-to-head lead.
Retiring star Tai Tzu Ying has a favourable draw before a potential quarter-final clash against China’s Wang Zhi Yi.
In the lower half, Olympic champion Chen Yu Fei may face Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in the quarter-finals. Yamaguchi, leading their head-to-head 21-10, won their last encounter in the semi-finals of last year’s KFF Singapore Badminton Open. However, Yamaguchi’s path is challenging, starting with a tough match against Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon.
Singapore’s men’s singles player Loh Kean Yew.
Women’s Doubles
Defending champions and world No. 1 pair Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan have a favourable draw, potentially facing Japan’s Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara in the quarter-finals, with an 8-2 head-to-head advantage. They are then likely to match up against fellow Chinese pairs Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning Zhang Shu Xian and Zheng Yu for a spot in the finals.
Men’s Doubles
In men’s doubles, 2023 runners-up Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang have a promising path to the semi-finals, boasting head-to-head advantages against several seeded pairs in the bottom half of the draw.
Mixed Doubles
Local duo Terry Hee and Jessica Tan face a challenging opening match against world No. 4 pair Seo Seung Jae and Chae Yu Jung, who have won all three of their previous encounters.
Adding a touch of prestige to the highly anticipated event, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam will be the Guest of Honor at the tournament finals on Sunday, June 2. He will present awards to the champions of one of the most esteemed categories.
Beyond the exhilarating on-court battles, the KFF Singapore Badminton Open 2024 promises an engaging fan experience. A family-friendly carnival will be held at OCBC Square daily from 10am to 9pm, featuring game booths, live performances, delayed live streaming, meet-and-greet sessions with players, and merchandise booths.
Bryan Long, Chairman of the KFF Singapore Badminton Open 2024, shared his excitement: “This year, we’re thrilled to host the most competitive field in our tournament’s history. Fans of all ages are in for a treat with world-class matches and the opportunity to engage in various family-friendly activities at our carnival. It’s set to be an unforgettable event for all.”
